Beckett & Lester a BUST!

Jon Lester lost his first game at Fenway Park since April. He was trashed by Tampa Bay batters, who scored 5 earned runs (4 on HR's in one inning). Lester looked "off". His performance coupled with the disaster in Tampa put the Sox down 2-1 in the ALCS. Jon picked a bad night to fail to be the Sox Ace. The 9-1 Sox loss at the fens -- sent shock waves around the Baseball World.

Josh Beckett allowed 8 earned runs in the Red Sox extra inning loss on Sunday in Tampa. He was awful!!! Some -- including this writer feel that Josh has yet to recover and will not be affective IF he has another chance to pitch in the post season.

Post Game Fan Reaction:

"What was Francona thinking bring Beckett back in the 5th, he set up damn near every batter with hitters counts thru 4 innings, Tampa could have had 4 more runs before the 5th. Beckett has been mediocre all year, the move was stupid!" -- 10.11.08, 10:51 p.m., reader Robert Stilwell on behalf of Red Sox Nation

"The Sox fired Grady little for leaving Martinez in to long. Francona should be fired for leaving Beckett in too long. what made him think that Beckett could get Longoria out Beckett should have been taken out in the third inning, bonehead decision by Francona." -- 10.11.08, 10:42 p.m., reader J Donovan on behalf of Red Sox Nation

ACES PITCH LIKE JOCKERS - SOX LOSE 9-1 IN GAME 3

By Ian Browne / MLB.com
The defending-champion Red Sox are suddenly stuck in rally mode at Fenway Park as starter Jon Lester was rocked early and Boston's bats managed only a seventh-inning sacrifice fly from Jacoby Ellsbury in a second straight loss.Complete story >

Red Sox Coverage
Lester's October invincibility runs out
Red Sox Short Hops: Game 3
ALCS tidbits: Game 3
Big Papi looks to get back on track
Facing Garza, Sox start Cora in Game 3
Evans part of Sox's past, present
Terry Francona postgame interview

View series

Rays lead series, 2-1

Gm 1
BOS 2 @ TB 0
Fri
Oct. 10


Gm 2
BOS 8 @ TB 9
Sat
Oct. 11


Gm 3
TB 9 @ BOS 1
Mon
Oct. 13

BASEBALL HEADS NOTES:

1. ORTIZ, ELLSBURY AND VERITEK ARE 0 FOR THE SERIES. EACH HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OUT THE CAUSE AND HAVE FAILED. IF THEY CONTINUE TO SLUMP FORGET ANOTHER TRIP TO THE WORLD SERIES.


2. RED SOX PITCHING HAVE ALLOWED AN ALARMING 17 RUNS ON 25 HITS IN THE PAST TWO ALCS GAMES. THEIR PITCHING RESEMBLED THE TAMPA BAY STAFF OF 2007!


3. INJURIES TO DAVID ORTIZ AND MIKE LOWELL ARE KILLING THE SOX IN THE LONG RUN. MIKE IS OFF THE ROSTER FOR THE ALCS AND BIG PAPPI HAS NO PO CUZ OF HIS WRIST PROBLEMS.


4. THE 7-8-9 BATTERS FOR SOX HAVE ONLY GARNERED 7 HITS IN THREE GAMES. 3 HITS BY COCO AND 2 HITS BY KOTSAY.


5. COCO CRISP HAS EARNED A STARTING NOD OVER JACOBY TONIGHT. HE WAS 3 FOR 3 BATTING 9TH IN GAME 2.


6. BIG PAPPI NEEDS TO BE MOVED FROM THE 3 SPOT NOW!


7. HERE IS MY LINEUP FOR GAME 4:

Game 4 Line Up - Posted by the Baseball Head

1. Coco Crisp - CF


2. Dustin Pedroia - 2B


3. Kevin Yook - 3B


4. Jason Bay - LF


5. Big Pappi - DH


6. JD Drew - RF


7. Mark Kotsay - 1B


8. Kevin Cash - C


9. Jed Lowerie - SS